63 HUMBLE CREATURES. 



When fully formed, the ova, which appear to be 

 arrested at a certain point near the entrance to the 

 "proper oviducts" (fig. 3, d), so that the subdivision 

 into tubes is here distinctly visible, enter these two 

 ducts and pass on to the " common oviduct " (fig. 3, e), 

 a large central tube formed by the rmion of the two 

 " proper oviducts," and thence they are extruded into 

 the cells prepared for their reception by the Worker 

 Bee. 



But a curious feature in connexion with this por- 

 tion of the Bee's anatomy is the means provided for 

 the fertilization of the ova ; these, during their pas- 

 sage through the " common oviduct," come into con- 

 tact with the male elements, which are deposited by 

 the drone, and stored up in the " spermatheca " 

 (PI. VIII. fig. 2, s), a reservoir provided for the pur- 

 pose, and connected by a short tube with the oviduct*. 

 By this operation the eggs become fructified, and, in 

 consequence of this peculiar arrangement, a single 

 impregnation by the male is sufficient to fertilize the 

 queen-bee during her whole life. 



Unless you were previously acquainted with the 

 circumstance, this statement might appear very re- 

 markable; but, strange though it be, it is but of 

 slight interest compared with another fact recently 

 revealed with the aid of the microscope, and that is, 

 that the union of the sexes is not at aU an indispen- 



* By the side of the "spermatheca'' (the little globular 

 vessel) will be seen two secreting tubes (I, I), whose office is not 

 known, but which probably secrete a moistening iiuid. 



